The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-08-26
RUN TO EARTH.
CAPTURE OF A NOTED EXPRESS ROB.
Der IN CINCINNATI.
How Edward johnson Robbed the south
ern Express Co. of $4,000.
Cincinnati Enuuirerl

ern Express Co. of $4,000.
Cincinnati Enquirer.l
Detective Joe Warren, of this city's
force and Chief Whallen, of Louisville,
KY, yesterday made an arrest in this
! city which is of more or less Importance
throughout the country. As a result, a
man whose deeds rs an express robbcr
made him notorious throughout the land
was last evening taken from Covington
to the Falls City of the same state.
There he will be held by the authorities
of the Tennessee Penitentiary, where he
is wanted to serve out several years of a
twenty-one years sentence.
The prisoner is Edward johnson, q
man whom the authorities of nearly ev-
cry city in the Union have been on the
lookout for over Il year. The otfense
for which he is wanted was
MOST DARING ROBBERY,
Perpetrated nearly fifteen years ago, and
by which he and pal, now serving time
in the Nashville "Pen," secured cool
$4,000. johnson is recognized as one of
the smartest of his kind in the country.
To what exent he has operated through
out the country, besides his participation
in the two jobs hereinafter detailed, can
only be surmsed. The first job that
brought him to public notice was done
in 1865. In st. Louis he and Il pal mt
that time managed to steal the fat sum
of $4,000 from delivery clerk of the
Southern Express Company. Johnson
was arrested and convicted of participa-
ton in the job, and was sentenced to
twenty-one years in the penitentiary of
Missouri, at Jefferson City.
After "doing" eighteen months, John
son weakened, and after, turning up
most of
THE STOLEN STUFF
Secured his release. He was not heard
of again until 1873. In the fall of that
year he and confederate named Mat
Morris, alias "Pittsburg MAJ" went to
Memphis, Tennessee. They were after
big game, as will be seen further along.
The proposed robbery was well planned
and carried to successful culumniation
which speaks for the shrewdness and au-
dacity of the robbers. In the further
ance of their scheme johnson and Nor
ris went to Memphis. As a guise of
their real intent the pair rented apart
ments adjoining a prominent banking
institution, and made bluff at carrying
on Il legitimate commission business.
When the proper time arrived "for the
trick to come off johnson went to Hum
boldt, Tenn, and shipped supposed
MONEY PACKAGE
To his partner at Memphis. After so
doing he boarded the same train on
which the package was, and duly arriv-
ed in that city. The delay necessitated
by the package having to go through
the express company's office allowed
johnson to join his pal, Morris, before
the messenger could deliver the alleged
money parcel to its place of address.
Their scheme was to get the delivery
clerk into their place and rob him of
what money he might have in his valise.
The plan worked admirably, as in due
time the express agent, with $4,000 in
his possession called upon Messrs. Nor
ris and Johnson, this was the opportun
ity desired. The unsuspecting clerk
had scarcely entered the supposed com
mission house when
THE BLINDS WERE DRAWN,
And in less time than it takes to tell
the story he was Knocked senseless. His
valise, containg the above amount, was
quickly appropriated by the two robbers
who leaving their victim for dead made
the best of their time at hand to escape.
From Memphis it was later developed,
the pair went to Arkansas, where the
swag was divided and they separated.
Morris went south while johnson came
north. When the news of the robbery
was flashed over the country the Pinkcr-
ton Detective Agency, which had work
ed up the st. Louis case against johnson
at once recognized his hand in the Mem
phis Job, the modus operandi of which
was technically the same as that in the
robbery in the Mound City.
A MAN FROM THE PINKERToN AGENCY.
Wos AT onco detailed on the case. Di-
rectly after the preparation Of the
robbery the Express company offered "a
reward for the apprehension of the thief
of SIT, 900, but this amount was subse-
qucntly reduced. Through the wife of
Johnson, who was living ut Cairo, ILL.,, ut
the time, he was caught in East Missouri
some months afterwards. lie was sent
back to Memphis for trial. While in
jail awaiting trial he made a great play
nj the insanity dodge but signally failed.
He was finally convicted and sentenced
to twenty-onc years in the "pen" at
Nashville.
After serving six months of his time
he managed IN bride one Of the team
sters mt the penltentiary and
IN LIEU OF 4 sax HUNDRED DOLLAR
CHECK,
Which subsequently proved TO be bogus
he was allowed 10 hide out In u load at